TIRELESS Nicola Proud has received a Fundraising Volunteer of the Year award for her relentless determination in the fight against heart disease.

Nicola has picked up the North Yorkshire area winner award during Volunteers’ Week, the annual celebration that recognises the work of all volunteers across the UK.

Nicola, of Northallerton, scooped the accolade for her dedication to the British Heart Foundation through fundraising efforts, helping the charity to raise money to fund its life-saving research.

Her first fundraising event for the BHF was the Rock Up In Red ball held in February this year which raised a staggering £18,835 and she has since gone on to set up the Northallerton BHF Fundraising Group to continue her vital fundraising.

Nicola said: “I was truly shocked to hear I had been given such a special award.”

She added: “I wanted to give something back to a charity which had helped us so much after my husband had a heart attack in January 2015.”